Verizon AUP Policy

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Hoewing, C. L." <c.l.hoewing () verizon com>
> Date: December 4, 2009 1:56:51 PM EST
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: Verizon AUP Policy

> Dave:
>
> Could you post on your listserve?
>
> Thanks.
>
> LINK
>
> There has been some discussion – and criticism – about what some  
> have mistakenly identified as a change to the Acceptable Use Policy  
> (AUP) for Verizon’s broadband service.  In particular, the AUP has,  
> for several years, contained language suggesting that Verizon would  
> not allow its subscribers to cross-post “off-topic information on me 
> ssage boards, chat rooms or social networking sites."  Those comment 
> ing on this language assume it means that Verizon is going to be mon 
> itoring comments and interposing itself in some way as posts are sen 
> t to blogs and other sites across the Internet.  This is absolutely  
> not the case.
>
> First, the language in question has been in our AUP for many years.   
> It was initially adopted in 2002 at a time when UseNet and  
> listserves were usually unmoderated and cross-posting and off-topic  
> posts were viewed as disruptive and even offensive (in fact, ISPs  
> could even be shut off from connections to other sites if they  
> allowed spam or major cross-posting.   It was at the early stages of  
> broadband deployment and growing use of the Internet for social and  
> discussion purposes.   The language was modified a bit in early  
> 2008, but has remained unchanged since then.
>
> Second, even though the provision has been in our AUP for several  
> years, it hasn't resulted in any actions by Verizon against any  
> subscriber.  We have been been, and remain, committed to the FCC’s c 
> onnectivity principles and statements we have made that we will not  
> block, degrade or interfere with traffic.
>
> Third, today’s blog sites and social networks have policies that gen 
> erally guide comment postings.  Most of these sites are moderated. V 
> erizon on its Policy Blog, for example, has a comment policy but in  
> general, all comments are posted.  Only things like profanity raise  
> flags.
>
> After reviewing the comments about our AUP and looking at the  
> language ourselves, we think its worth clarifying what we intend by  
> our policy -- and what we don't intend by it.  So we will be  
> clarifying our AUP to address the concerns that have been raised  
> recently about the potential for this language to be read more  
> broadly than we intended.    The policy applies to use of Verizon  
> sites, not to third party blog, bulletin board and social networking  
> sites.
>
> Link Hoewing
> Vice President
> Internet and Technology Policy
> Verizon
> 1300 I Street, NW
> Washington, DC 20005
> 202-515-2420



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